Door structure for silos



. April 4, 1939.

M. W. MOTT DOOR STRUCTURE FOR SILOS Filed April 22. 1938 2 SheetS-Sheefll mommge April 4, 1939. M 'W' MQTT 2,153,473

DOOR STRUCTURE FOR sILosV Filed April 22, 1938 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patentedpr. 4, 1939 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOOR STRUCTURE FOR SILOSMaurice W. Mott, Red Creek, N. Y. Application April 22, 1938, Serial No.203,696 3 Claims. (Cl. .Z0-1.4)

This invention relates to a combined hinged and adjustable closure unitsfor disposing in suand continuous door structure designed primarilyperimposed relation rearwardly of said members for wood or concretesilos, but it is to be under- 'and elements to close the silo, and withsaid elestood that a door structure in accordance with ments and unitsincluding coacting means for y5 this invention is for use in anyconnection for rmly and detachably holding said units in su- 5 which itmay be found applicame, perimposed relation when in closure position.

The invention has for its object to provide, in Further objects of theinvention are to provide,

a manner as hereinafter set forth, a continuous in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a continudoor structure for silos including aseries of indeous door structure for the purpose referred t0 pendentlyadjustable, latchable, hinged closure which is comparatively simple inits construcunits capable of being respectively arranged in tion andarrangement, strong, durable, thoroughsuperposed relation for closingthe silo; foldable 1y eeielit in its use. COI1Veuier1t1y. adjustable.back against the inside of the silo and completely readily Set up, andcomparatively inexpensive t0 out of the way when adjusted to open thesilo; manufacture.

and/or easily lifted off of their hinges for stor- Embodyihg the Objectsaforesaid. and t0 0thers 15 age elsewhere if desired, which mayhereinafter appear, the invention con- A further object of the inventionis to provide, sists ofthe novel construction, combination and in amanner as hereinafter set forth, a continu.- arrangement of parts asWill bemOre sDeCiCally ous door structure including a series ofindedescribed and illustrated in the-accompanying pendently adjustable,latchable closure units for drawings; wherein is shown an embodiment of20 disposing in superimposed relation and having tile iuVeutiOu, but itis t0 be understood that the joints therebetween and with the silo ofshipchanges, variations and modieations may be relap constructionproviding, when said units are sOrted t0 Which fell Within the SCODe 0fthe invenin closure position, a perfectly smooth substantiOn as Claimed.

tially continuous surface between said units, and In the drawingsb.- 25also between the units and the wa11 of the silo Figure 1 is a frontelevation, broken away of on the inside of the latter, resulting in theelimithe continuous door structure, nation of door bending, leakage andspoilage Figure 2il is a fragmentary VieW, irl rear eleve'- around doorjoints so often experienced with tion of the door structure,

other type doors for silos. Figure 3 is a fragmentary View, in frontele- 30 A further object of the invention is to provide VgtiOn and uPOrlan enlarged Seele 0f the dOOr in a manner as hereinafter set forth, acontinustructure, ous door structure for silos including a pair ofFigure 4 is a section on line 4 4 Figure 3, spaced, parallel door jambs,a series of continu- Figure 5 is a seCtiOrl 0111iue5-5 Figure 3,

ous adjustable, removable closure units for dis- Figure 6 is a section0n line 6-6 Figure 3, 35 posing in superimposed relation andalternatelyA Figure 'itis a fragmentary view in front elevahinged tosaid jambs, normally horizontally distion and upon an enlarged scaleillustrating a posed spaced superposed swingable step members pair 0fCIOsure unitsy in adjusted position,

on the outer faces of said jambs, spaced, fixed, Figure 8 is a sectionon line 8-8 Figure 7 with 40 superposed jamb spreaders bearing againstthe the upper step omitted, and 40 inner edges of and connected to theouter faces Figure 9 is a front elevation and upon an enof the jambs andalternately disposed in spaced larged scale of one of the adjustableclosure units relation with respect to said members, and latchdetached.

ing means for the units carried by the spreaders, The continuousdoorstructure includesV a pair 4g the construction and arrangement ofthe strucof spaced parallel vertically disposed jambs I0, 45 turalfeatures aforesaid being such that when Il of the desired height andwhich coact to prothree successive units are opened from a position videa door opening I2. The jambs are suitably of superimposed relation and astep member secured to the silo body, not shown. 'I'he width swungdownwardly from horizontal position, and thickness of the jambs are tobe as desired. 5@ there is ample space for a man to enter the silo Thejambs will be partly countersunk in the inner 5o between a pair ofsuperposed jamb spreaders. face of and extend from the'top to a point inA further object of the invention is to provide, proximity to the lowerend of the silo body. The in a manner as hereinafter set forth, aoontinujambs will be arranged relative to the side edges ous doorstructure for silos including step memof the opening in the silo body'ina manner bers, combined' door jambs and step elements, whereby the innerlengthwise edges of the jambs 55 ayo will be disposed in spaced relationto said side edges. This arrangement may be had by rabbeting theportions of the inner face of the silo body bordering the opening in thelatter, seating the jambs in and having the latter of a width to extendlaterally in oppos'te directions from the rabbets. The jambs are of likeform and each of which has the inner marginal portion of its innerlengthwise edge I3 provided with a section I4 of a ship-lap joint. Thejoint sections I4 are oppositely disposed. Each ship-lap joint sectionI4 is provided by forming the inner side marginal portion of the rearsurface of a jamb lengthwise thereof with a rabbet.

The door structure includes two sets oi adjustable closure units. Theunits of one set are indicated at I5 and the units of the other set atI6. The units of the said sets are, arranged in alter-v nately disposedrelation. As shown by way of example the units I5 are to be adjusted tothe right and theunits I6 to the left when access is desired'to be'hadto the silo. It is to be'understood that the units I5v maybe set up tobe adjusted to the. left and the units I6 to the right. Each closureunit is of like form and includes a rectangular'. panel I1 of anysuitable material, preferably Wood. Theside Yedges of the panel Il1are`for`med in a manner to provide a pair of oppositely' disposedship-.lap joint sections I8 for coaction with the joint sections I4 whenthe panel isili Closurepos'ition, as shown by Figures 4 and 5. Thelship-'lap*joint sections I8 are provided by fqrming the side marginalportions of the front surfaces of the'panels with oppositely disposedtransversely extending rabbets. The top and bottomedges or the panel areformed with oppositely disposed shiplap joint sections I9, 20. The jointsection I9 of a lower panel is for coaction with` the joint section 2 9.ot an upper panel when thefpanels are in closureV position as shown byFigure 6. The ship-lap 4joint sections I9, 20 are DrvidQd by formingrespectively the top and bottom Inarginalportions ot the frontsurface ofthe panels with oppositely disposed horizontally extending rabbets. Thesections of the ship-lap JQ'lXltS. are S9 frmed that when they arein c0-acting relation there is, Yprovided a perfectly Smeeih.. Substantiallycontinuelle Surface between said units and also between the units andthe body fV the S119 Qntheinner side of the latter for Obtainingthe,.dvantagesaforesad- Each of the units I includes a removablymountedv hinged. suspension 2 I` therefor arranged on thai-ront face ofits panel I1. Each of the units "IIS4 includes a removably mountedhinged suspension22 therefor arranged on the front face of its panel I1.When the units are in superimposed relation, that is in closureposition, the

suspensions 2l, are superposed and the suspensions 22 superposed. Thesuspensions 2I are oppositely disposed with respect to the suspensions22 The suspensions 2| are arranged on one side of the units I5 and thesuspensions 22 on one side oi the units` I6 which is opposite the sideof the units I5 on which the suspensions 2| are arranged. y

The suspensions for the said units are of skeleten-like form andeachconsists of a top member 23, formed with a rearwardly extendingangularly disposed inverted` L-shaped depending inner end terminalportion. 24 andan angularly disposed. upwardly extending outer endterminal portion '25, a .bottom member 26 having a rearwardly extendingangularlydisposed inverted L- shaped V,depending Vinner-end terminalportion 21 and an angularly disposed upwardly extending outer endterminal portion 28, an outer side member 29 arranged between andintegral with the members 23, 26 and spaced inwardly from the endterminal portions 24, 21, and an inner side member 3D arranged betweenand integral with the members 23, 26 at the points of mergence of theterminal portions 24, 21 with the remaining parts of the members 23, 26.The vertical legs 3l of the end terminal portions 24, 21 verticallyalign and provide pivots. The end terminal portions 25, 28 verticallyalign and provide pivots. The member 29 is iiat and of rectangular crosssection and constitutes a keeper for a latching member to be referredto.

Secured to the front face of each of the panels centrally thereof is apair of horizontally disposed spaced vertically aligned short straps 32,33 bent upon themselves at one terminal portion thereof to formvertically disposed barrels 34, 35 respectively. The said end terminalportions 25, 28 removably extend into and coact with the barrels 34, 3,5torform a pair of outer hinged connections between a panel I1 and oneend of a suspension. Each hinged connection is formed of a pair oiinterengageable parts capable of being separated. The barrels 34, 35whichcoact with the suspensions 2| are disposed on the ends of thestraps 32, 33 opposite the ends of the latter on which those barrels 34,3 5 are arranged which coact with the suspensions 22. The strapsv 32, 33are arranged above the members 23, 26 respectively of a suspension.

Secured to the outer face of the jamb I0 are superposed spaced pairs oispaced angle-shaped straps 36 for coaction with the suspensions 22. Eachstrap 36 is formed of an outer leg 31 and an inner leg 38 extendinginwardly at right angles to the inner end of leg 31 and opposing theedgeI3 of the jamb I0. The leg 38 is bent upon itself to form a verticalbarrel 39. The straps 36 oi each pair arearranged below the members 23,26 of a suspension 22,. The end terminalportions 25, 28 of a, suspension22 removably extend into the barrels 3,9, of a pair of straps 36, toform a pair. of inner hinged connections between the jamb lll and theother end ofv a suspensionA 22. Each hinge connection between a.suspension 22 and. the jamb I0 is formed of a pair of interengagableparts capable of being separated.

Secured to the outer face ot the jamb. II are superposed spaced pairs ofspaced angle shaped straps 4.0 for coaction with the suspension 2l. Eachstrap 40 is formedv of an outerleg IlV and an. inner leg 42 (Figure 8)extending inwardly at right angles to the inner end of leg 4I andopposing the edge I3. of the jamb II. The leg 42 is bent upon itself toform a vertical barrel 43. The straps 4B of each pair are arranged belowthe members 23, 26 oik a suspension 2l. The end terminal portions 25, 28of a suspension 2| re-V movably extendv into the barrels 43 of a pair oistraps 4t to form a pair` of inner hinge connec- 'tions between the jambI.I and. the other end oa suspension 2|. Each hinge connection between asuspension 2l and the jamb II is formed of a pair of interengageableparts capable of being separated.

Themanner of setting up the straps 32, 33, 36 and 43 relative to thesuspensions permit of the panelsbeing swung inwardly to oppose the innerface of the body of the s'lo. The panels of the units I5 are to be swungto the left and the panels of the units I6 are tov be swung to theright. A further provision is had whereby'the suspen- 'sions may beexpeditiously separated from the jambs and from the panels.

The door structure includes a set of superposed adjustable step-formingmembers 44 which when in normal position are disposed horizontally andextend when in normal position from the jamb I0 to the jamb H. Themembers 44 oppose the outer faces of the units I6 when these latter arein closure position. The members are of like construction and eachconsists of a bar 45 having an angularly disposed depending end terminalportion 46 which loosely extends into a barrel 41 from the lower end ofthe latter. The barrel 41 is integral with a carrier 43 thereforpivotally lconnected, as at 49v to the front of jamb I0. Se-

cured to the front of jamb II are superposed angle-shaped keepers 50,each associated with the other end terminal portion 5I of a member 44 todetachably support the latter in the position shown in Figures 1, 3 and4, that is extending horizontally and across a unit I6.

The door structure includes a set of superposed horizontally disposedcombined step forming and jamb spreading elements 52 of like form andeach 0f which extends from jamb I6 to jamb II. The elements 52 when theunits are in closure position oppose the outer faces of the units I5, asis shown in Figures 1 and 3. The elements 52 are permanently secured toth'e jambs I0, II and are alternately disposed with respect to themembers 44. The elements 52 are of like construction and each consistsof an outwardly opening channel shape portion 53 forming a wide foottread and a pair of oppositely disposed tapered end portions 54, 55formed at their inner ends with inwardly extending flanges 56, 51respectively providing abutments. The inner wall of the portion 53merges at its ends into the inner ends of the end portions 54, 55. Thetop and bottom walls of the portion 53 are extended on and merge intothe front face of the portions 54, 55. The inner end parts of theportions 54, 55 are of greater width than the height of portion 53whereby the ends of the latter will be spaced inwardly from the top andbottom edge of said portions 54, 55. The top and bottom walls of theportion 53 are connected to the portions 54, 55 by the web 58. Theportions 54, 55 are secured to the jambs I0, II by the holdfast devices59a. The flanges 56, 5'! are arranged against the edges I3 of the jambsI Il, I I whereby these latter are maintained in spaced relation.

The door structure includes a set of latching members 56a, each of whichis pivotally connected against the inner face of an element 52 andconsisting of a shank 60 terminating at one end into a handle 6I. Theshank 66 at its other end has one side edge thereof formed with anangleshaped nose 62 disposed at right angles thereto. The nose 62 isformed of a pair of legs 63, 64 extending at right angles to each other.Each latching member 59a is for coacting with a suspension 2I of a unitI5 for latching the latter in closure position. When a latching member56a is in active position the leg 63 thereof is arranged vrearwardly ofthe side member 29 of a suspension 2l, the leg 64 abutting a lengthwiseedge of such side member and the handle 6I seated on the top wall of theintermediate portion 53 of an element 52 and in this connectionattention is directed to Figure 5. The said side member 29 coacts with alatching member 59EL to form a keeper for the nose 62 and prevent a unitI5 being swung inwardly from its closure position shown in Figure 5until the latching member has been swung to the position shown in Figure'7.

When the units I5, I6 aredisposed in superimposed or closure position,such as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and when the latching members 59al areactive the units I6 are latched to the units I5 and the lunits I5 arelatched to the elements 52 they will be held in such position until theunits i5 are released. When an upper latching member 59a is released itunlatches an upper unit l5 and the lower'unit I6 directly below suchunit I5. The ship-lap joints between a unit I6 and the pair of units I5,between which unit I6 is arranged prevents the opening of unit I6 untilthe upper unit of the said pair of units I5 is unlatched and furtheracts to prevent the opening of the lower units I5 of the said pair ofunits I5, even if such lower unit is unlatched until the upperunit I5 ofthe said pair of units I5 is unlatched.

When a set of three superimposed units are opened and the step members45 which extend across the central unit of such set is dropped to thedotted line position, Figure 2, there is ample room, between theelements 52 which extend across the outer units of said set for a man toenter the silo.

What I claim is:

1. In silos, a pair of parallel spacer jambs providing a door opening,each of said jambs having the rear portion of its inner side edge formedwith stepped rabbets, independently shiftable continuous closures fordisposing in superimposed overlapping relation in said opening and forseating in the rabbets of said jambs, the abutting edges of each pair ofsuperimposed closures being rabbeted to provide for the overlapping ofsuch closures, the side edges of each closure being rabbeted to pro-videfor the closure seating in the rabbets of the jambs, spaced inner pairsof spaced pivot receivers, each pair being secured to the front face ofa closure, superposed spaced outer pairs of spaced pivot receiverssecured to the front face and extending inwardly from the inner sideedge of each jamb, each pair of outer pivot receivers correlated withand arranged below the receivers of an inner pair, suspension means foreach closure, each suspension means being formed with oppositelydisposed pivots for mounting in the correlated pairs of receivers toprovide in connection with the latter a hinge connection between aclosure and a jamb, and superposed spaced combined step formers andspreader elements extending across each alternate closure, said elementsbeing secured to the front faces and bearing against the inner sideedges of the jambs.

2. Inv silos, a pair of parallel spaced jambs providing a door opening,each of said jambs having the rear portion of its inner .side edgeformed with stepped rabbets, independently shiftable continuous closuresfor disposing in superimposed overlapping relation in said opening andfor seating in the rabbets of said jambs, the abutting edges of eachpair of superimposed closures being rabbeted to provide for theoverlapping of such closures, the side edges of each closure beingrabbeted to provide for the closure seating in the rabbets of the jambs,spaced inner pairs of spaced pivot receivers, each pair being secured tothe front face of a closure, superposed spaced outer pairs of spacedpivot receivers secured to the front and extending inwardly from theinner side edge of each jamb, each pair of outer pivot receiverscorrelated with and arranged below the receivers of an inner pair,suspension means for each clo- Sure, Sash Suspension means. beingsformedwh op sirtely dispos-.edr pivotsf for rmounting in the correlatedpairs of receivers to -provide' in' oonnection with the latter a hingeconnection ber. Vtween a closure and aV jamb, superposed spaced combinedstep formers and spreader elements extending across each.A alternateclosure, said V2.1@-y ments being secured to the fronti-aces and bear*-ing against the inner side edges of the jarnbs, and shiftable meanscarried byY said elements for latching thesaid alternateclosures inclosedposi-- tion whereby the other of said closures will be releasabrlyheld in closed position by the alternate closures.

3. In silos, a pair ofV parallel spaced jambs pro-- vidingr a dooropening, each of said jambs having the rear portion of itsA inner sideedge rabbeted, independently shiftable continuous closures for disposingin superimposed overlapping relation @legers cured to the fronts of saidjambs, and shiftable Ineans carried by said elements for latching thesaid alternate closures in closed position whereby te'o'ther of the saidclosures will be releasably by the alternate closures.

heldv closed` position MAURICE W. MO'I'I.

